For years, Tyler Childers fans could count on the singer-songwriter to bust out “Feathered Indians” at every show. Much to crowds’ chagrin, however, Childers eventually dropped the fan favorite from his setlist. Recently, he shared his reasoning.
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It all started with an Indigenous man named Shawn, who lives on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. Now, news has surfaced that the “In Your Love” crooner, 34, has been quietly helping Shawn fund programs for his community.
In a July 22 Facebook post, Shawn’s brother, Kash Hatcher, revealed that Childers began financially contributing to nonprofits on the Blackfeet reservation last year. He even donated the proceeds from an August 2024 benefit concert in Whitefish, Montana, to the community.
Recently, Childers stopped by the reservation for a firsthand look at where his money is going. Sharing a photo from that visit, Hatcher wrote, “He’s kind. He’s compassionate. He helped our people. And for that, thank you.”
In addition to seeing his dollars in action, the Blackfeet people took time to honor Childers’ contributions with a special ceremony. Bill Old Chief, Shawn’s father, posted his own pictures to social media.
“[It] was a day that the Blackfeet came out to honor the man who touched so many lives and hearts on the Blackfeet reservation of Montana… God bless this humble man who’s heart has captured the Blackfeet,” Old Chief wrote.
Why Tyler Childers No Longer Plays ‘Feathered Indians’
Many Indigenous people have a fraught relationship with the word “Indian.” And Tyler Childers acknowledges, “If there’s conversation amongst those individuals about whether they should be using that word or not, then it ain’t for me to be using. It’s not mine.”
The Grammy-nominated artist reached this revelation after meeting Shawn Old Chief at at a hide-tanning class in Montana. The two struck up a friendship, and Childers realized he hoped Shawn never heard his song “Feathered Indians.” Learning that Shawn’s young nephew enjoyed his music delivered another gut punch. Childers tells GQ that he went back to his Airbnb and cried.
“That song has some of my favorite lines I’ve ever written, some of my favorite melodies,” said an emotional Childers, wiping his eyes. “Not playing that song is going to make people think.”
These days, he and his wife, Senora May, donate royalties from the song to support grants for Indigenous communities and organizations, through their foundation, the Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund.
Featured image by Michael Chang/Getty Images
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